Review of 2025 Remus Gatsby Reserve Bourbon

If you’re an experienced whiskey hunter, you know when the best allocated selections hit the market. And, if you’re a fan of Ross  & Squibb (MGP) Bourbons, you know that means it is Remus Gatsby Reserve.

 

Named to honor the F. Scott Fitzgerald story, The Great Gatsby, and the events of the 1920s. The book was a commentary on the changing times. It told a great story with plenty of subtext that makes the reader think.

 

If you’ve never read it (it is one of my favorite books that I read in high school), it tells the story of George Gatsby. Gatsby was a self-made millionaire who lived during America’s Jazz Age. Gatsby was obsessed with Daisy Buchanan; he’d been in love with her since they were children. Gatsby was a man of extravagance, and people were curious about how he had amassed his immense wealth. He was a bootlegger and a gambler (much like George Remus himself).

 

“2025 marks the centennial of ‘The Great Gatsby,’ so we wanted to make this year’s expression of Remus Gatsby Reserve absolutely epic. We hand-selected our finest 15-year-old straight Bourbon whiskey barrels from our reserves and expertly blended them to create a legendary pour. This year’s release showcases Remus Bourbon at its best.

To highlight the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, consumers can scan the QR code on the bottle’s hang tag and point their camera at the front label for a Gatsby-esque fireworks celebration.” – Ian Stirsman, Master Distiller

 

Since 2022, Gatsby Reserve has been a blend of two MGP mashbills: 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, and 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. The 2025 release differs as it comes from only the 21% mashbill. In a welcome change of pace, it is also less expensive than the 2024 incarnation, priced at $199.99, down from $229.99. There is less than a two-point proof difference in the two, and, like last year, curiously, this is cask strength.

 

I make no bones about my mostly positive experiences with the George Remus line, including its various limited edition Reserve whiskeys.

 

Thank you, Ross & Squibb, for providing me with this opportunity in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. I’m looking forward to today’s #DrinkCurious adventure and hope it doesn’t disappoint. Time will tell, and that time is now.  

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Ross & Squibb (MGP)
• Age: 15 years
• Mashbill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 51.4% ABV (102.8°)
• Price per 750mL: $199.99

 

Appearance: I used my Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. The Bourbon presented as the color of fresh rust. A medium rim discharged thick, syrupy tears.

 

Nose: After allowing about ten minutes for Gatsby Reserve to breathe, I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and inhaled. The aroma included vanilla, nutmeg, cherry pie filling, and mild oak. There was toffee when I pulled the air through my lips.

 

Palate: The mouthfeel was soft, dense, and incredibly creamy, reminiscent of soft-serve ice cream. There was no palate shock whatsoever. On the front, I detected notes of vanilla, raisins, and pipe tobacco. My mid-palate found flavors of leather, earthiness, and bold molasses. The back included toasted oak, orange zest, and clove.

 

Finish: Orange zest, cherries, raisins, leather, and clove stuck like glue to my tongue and the top of my throat. It faded at 1:13 until its second wave. The full duration ran 1:56, making it long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The 2025 Remus Gatsby Reserve is a decadent pour. It drank right at about its stated proof; it was warming without being hot. The earthy transition was the dividing line between various layers, allowing savory and spicy notes to carry through after the sweeter introduction.

 

I was hopeful that I had a wee bit of the 2024 release in my whiskey library to do a comparison pour, but, alas, it was gone. When I reread my review from last year, that was a spicier Bourbon than this year’s Gatsby Reserve. It also had a far longer finish.

 

I could easily picture George Gatsby pouring this Bourbon at some lavish party, looking to impress everyone – including Daisy – and succeeding. It is a great whiskey, one that I wish I had more of, and as such, it takes my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.